China’s Visa-Free Policies: Latest Updates

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China offers multiple visa-free travel policies to foreigners, enabling people from a wide range of countries to visit China on a short-term basis. In this article, we provide an overview of all of the China visa-free travel policies currently available and explain who is eligible to enjoy them.

UPDATE (August 7, 2024): On July 20, 2024, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) officially announced the implementation of a 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Hainan,  effective from July 30, 2024. This policy aims to attract more international tourists to Hainan, enhance its global reputation and tourism competitiveness, and strengthen economic and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong, Macao, and Hainan. Read more here. 

UPDATE (August 2, 2024): On July 18, the Beijing Port Visa Office released a guideline on how inbound travelers can apply for a “port visa” (similar to a “visa on arrival”). Travelers facing emergencies can apply via email to bjcrjka@nia.gov.cn to receive a ‘Pre-Acceptance Receipt’ to board flights to China. After arrival, they must complete the visa application process at 24/7 Port Visa Offices in Beijing airports and obtain relevant types of visas based on their purpose of visit, with an allowed stay period of up to 30 days. 

UPDATE (July 15, 2024): The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has expanded China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 37 ports as of July 15, 2024. Zhengzhou aviation port in Henan now offers this policy, with the stay limited to the administrative region of Henan Province. The stay range of Yunnan Province’s policy has been expanded from Kunming to eight other cities (prefecture-level) including Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu’er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan. Additionally, Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and Mohan Railway Port have been added as ports applicable to the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Read more here.

UPDATES (June 25, 2024): Chinese President Xi Jinping and Polish President Andrzej Duda met in Beijing on June 24, 2024, to discuss enhancing cooperation between China and Poland. During the meeting President Xi also announced that China will remove the visa requirement for Polish citizens, allowing them to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 15 days.

UPDATES (June 17, 2024): Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that China will include Australia and New Zealand in the list of unilateral visa-free countries (up to 15 days). Li made the remarks separately during a joint press meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and during talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. 

UPDATES (May 15, 2024): China’s National Immigration Administration announced that it will grant a visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups to enter China by cruise at all cruise ports along the coast of China, starting from May 15, 2024. The tourist group must remain with the same cruise ship until its next port of call and stay within permitted areas for no more than 15 days.

UPDATES (March 7, 2024): According to official news, China will expand its unilateral visa-free travel policy to six additional European countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, during the period from March 14 to November 30, 2024. Ordinary passport holders from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. 

UPDATE (February 18, 2024): On February 9, 2024, China’s National Immigration Administration announced the expansion of the 30-day visa-free travel policy to the province of Hainan – to include more allowed purposes of entry. The expanded entry purposes for the Hainan visa-free policy include for business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, and sports competitions. However, work and study purposes are excluded from this arrangement.

UPDATE (January 25, 2024): China and Singapore have officially agreed to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Starting from February 9, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

UPDATE (January 8, 2024): China and Thailand have agreed to a permanent visa-free policy starting March 2024, fostering diplomatic relations and stimulating economic activity in their respective tourism sectors. Click here for more information regarding this mutual free-visa agreement between China and Thailand.

UPDATE (December 8, 2023): On December 8, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the Notice on Temporary Reduction of Fees for Applying Visa to China. According to this notice, during the period from December 11, 2023, to December 31, 2024, China shall cut visa fees by 25 percent across the board for foreign travelers. For more details, please consult with your local Chinese embassy or consulate.

UPDATE (December 7, 2023): China and Singapore are seeking to establish a mutual 30-day visa-free travel arrangement to boost people exchanges between the two countries, according to Reuters. At the time of writing, no further details have been released regarding the timeline or the eligibility, requirement, and application procedures of this new arrangement. Click here for more information regarding this mutual 30-day visa-free travel between China and Singapore. 

UPDATES (November 24, 2023): According to the official announcement on the website of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China will grant unilateral visa-free travel for holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, during the period from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024. Holders of ordinary passports from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. Click here for more information on this new 15-day visa-free travel/transit policy granted to citizens of five European nations and Malaysia.

UPDATES (November 17, 2023): According to an official announcement from the China National Immigration Administration (NIA), China has added Norway to the list of applicable countries that qualify for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit on arrival. Starting from November 17, 2023, Norwegian citizens will be able to enjoy the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy offered in 23 Chinese cities, covering 20 cities and 29 entry and exit ports. Click here for more information related to the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy.

After almost three years, China has finally reopened its borders to international travelers and tourists, and in March 2023, it resumed issuing all types of visas to foreigners. This means China has begun permitting people with valid travel documents that allow visa-free entry back into the country and has once again started issuing its short-stay entry permits that are available on arrival for citizens of certain countries.  

Below we provide an overview of all the visa-free options that are currently available for people traveling to China, and who is eligible to enjoy these policies. 

Countries with mutual visa exemption agreements with China 

China has also signed agreements on mutual visa exemption with over 150 countries, which enables certain citizens to travel to China without a visa. However, for the majority of countries, visa-free arrangements apply only to diplomatic or official passports.

A few countries do enable visa-free travel to China for citizens holding ordinary passports. Citizens from these countries are allowed to travel to China without a visa for up to 30 days for the purposes of tourism, travel, business, and visiting family or friends. 

These countries are: 

  • Armenia 
  • The Bahamas 
  • Barbados
  • Belarus 
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina 
  • Dominica 
  • Fiji 
  • Grenada 
  • The Maldives 
  • Mauritius 
  • San Marino 
  • Serbia 
  • Seychelles 
  • Suriname 
  • The United Arab Emirates 

Citizens from the above countries will still need to apply for a corresponding visa to China if they intend to work, study, or settle in China, or intend to stay for longer than 30 days. 

Countries with 30-day visa-free travel to China

China and Singapore have officially agreed to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days.

Starting from February 9, 2024, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

Countries with 15-day visa-free travel to China 

China offers 15-day visa-free travel to multiple countries, including:

To note, citizens from these countries would previously also have had to apply for a visa in advance if they: 

  1. Expect to stay in China for more than 15 days; or
  2. Intend to study, work, settle down, or attend an interview in China.

In the past, citizens with a valid ordinary passport from Japan, Brunei, and Singapore have been permitted to travel to China for a period of up to 15 days without applying for a visa for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting to a third country. However, this policy was suspended since the end of COVID-19 restrictions in China. On July 26, 2023, the 15-day visa-free travel to China policy was resumed for citizens of Brunei and Singapore, the latter of which has been upgraded to a 30-day visa-free travel since February 2024, as introduced earlier.

Most countries recently included in China’s 15-day visa-free travel initiative in 2023 and 2024 can take advantage of this policy until November 30, 2024. It remains uncertain whether China will prolong this deadline.

Additionally, as of now, the resumption date of this policy for Japanese citizens has not been announced. Consequently, Japanese nationals are required to obtain a tourist, business, or other types of visa for entry into China at present.

24/72/144-hour China visa-free transit 

China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to enter and stay in certain areas of China for 24, 72, and 144-hour periods without prior application for a visa when transiting to a third country. 

Note that people are excluded from this policy if they are: 

  • Not permitted to enter the country as stipulated by laws and administrative regulations (such as people who have been subject to sanctions or travel bans); 
  • Hold a passport or other international travel document that is valid for less than three months upon the time of arrival, or which has a refusal stamp from a Chinese visa issuing agency; 
  • Have records of illegal entry and exit, illegal residence, and illegal employment in China in the last five years; and/or
  • Have violated accommodation registration regulations in the last two years and the circumstances are deemed serious. 

144-hour visa-free transit 

Under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, foreign travelers can apply for a six-day entry permit to certain Chinese cities upon arrival at the port of entry, provided they hold a passport from one of the 54 eligible countries. They also must show that they are traveling to a third country after leaving China, which means they must show a connecting ticket to a third country when arriving in China. This is a great option for people who want to make a short stop-over to explore various areas of the country. 

The 54 countries are: 

  • 25 countries in the Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.  
  • 15 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.  
  • Six countries in the Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.  
  • Two countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.  
  • Six countries in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. 

Eligible travelers can only apply for the 144-hour visa-free transit if they enter through one of the 37 designated ports. In addition, travelers are only allowed to travel within a certain area on the entry permit and exit the country through designated ports as well. People who travel outside the permitted area and exit the country through a non-designated port may face certain penalties. 

For more information on eligibility requirements, permitted ports of entry and exit, and permitted scope of travel, see our dedicated article: 144-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreigners. 

72-hour visa-free transit 

Travelers from the 54 countries that are eligible for the 144-hour entry permit are also eligible for the 72-hour visa-free policy. However, there are currently only three entry ports in China that offer 72-hour visa-free entry, as the majority of ports that previously offered it now offer the 144-hour permit instead. The ports are Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, Harbin Taiping International Airport, and Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

Travelers who enter through Guiling and Harbin are only allowed to travel within the scope of the cities themselves, whereas travelers who enter through Changsha are permitted to travel within the whole of Hunan Province. 

All the same requirements and restrictions for the 144-hour entry permit apply to the 72-hour entry permit. 

24-hour visa-free transit 

All international travelers (except those exempted due to special circumstances) that are transiting through China are permitted to apply for a 24-hour visa-free entry permit upon arrival. As with the other two visa-free transit policies, travelers must provide a connecting ticket to a third country. They are not permitted to leave the city in which they arrived during their 24-hour stay and must leave the country within 24 hours.  

China’s Visa-Free Transit Policy
Policy  144-hour visa-free transit  72-hour visa-free transit  24-hour visa-free transit 
Exemption 
  • People who are not permitted to enter the country as stipulated by laws and administrative regulations (such as people who have been subject to sanctions or travel bans); 
  • People holding a passport or other international travel document that is valid for less than three months upon the time of arrival, or which has a refusal stamp from a Chinese visa issuing agency; 
  • People with records of illegal entry and exit, illegal residence, and illegal employment in China in the last five years; 
  • People who have violated accommodation registration regulations in the last two years and the circumstances are deemed serious. 
Applicable countries  54 countries  54 countries  All countries 
Entry-exit ports  37 ports 3 ports in 3 cities/provinces All international airports 
Scope of permitted travel  Each entry port has a designated area of activity  Each entry port has a designated area of activity  Within the city where the entry port is located after applying for a temporary entry permit on arrival 

China visa-free policies for individual travelers and tour groups

Pearl River Delta 

People from countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and are traveling in a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macao can travel to the nine mainland Chinese cities of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for up to six days (144 hours) without a visa. The same policy also applies to tour groups visiting Shantou in Guangdong Province, as long as their activities do not extend beyond the administrative area of Shantou. 

To be eligible for this policy, the tour group must depart from Hong Kong or Macao. 

Hainan 

Citizens of 59 countries are now eligible for 30 days of visa-free travel to the province of Hainan for purposes such as business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, sports competitions, and other needs (excluding long-term working and studying). Eligible travelers are free to travel around the whole province of Hainan and can travel from Hong Kong or any other place outside Mainland China with a direct flight to the island.  This visa-free access will count its 30-day duration from 00:00 the day following the entry date.

This policy was previously only applicable to tour groups but was expanded to individual travel as well on March 15, 2023. On February 9, 2024, the 30-day visa-free travel to the province of Hainan was expanded again to include more allowed purposes of entry. 

The 59 eligible countries are Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, and Belarus. 

The NIA also introduced a new 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Hainan,  effective from July 30, 2024. This policy aims to attract more international tourists to Hainan, enhance its global reputation and tourism competitiveness, and strengthen economic and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong, Macao, and Hainan. Key points of the policy are summarized below:

Key Points Detailed description
Implementation date
  • From July 30, 2024
Applicable scope
Entry conditions
  • The applicant will travel to Hainan from Hong Kong or Macao SAR in a tourist group organized by a travel agency that is legally registered in any of the two SARs and consists of at least two persons.
Visa-free duration
  • Stay not exceeding 144 hours (calculated from 00:00 the day after entry)
Entry and exit ports
  • All open ports in Hainan Province
Activity scope
  • Administrative region of Hainan Province
Special requirements
  • Must enter and exit as a group
  • Those meeting visa-free agreements or other government visa-free policies with China can follow those regulations

Guilin 

Tour groups consisting of a minimum of two people from the 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines) that are organized and hosted by a travel agency registered and approved by the tourism authority of Guilin, Guangxi Province, can enter and exit through Guilin airport port and stay in Guilin for up to six days (144 hours) without a visa. 

Visa-free travel for tour groups from six countries 

Some of the agreements on mutual visa exemption also enable visa-free travel for tour groups. These countries are Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Georgia, Moldova, and Turkmenistan. 

The requirements for the tour groups differ slightly between the different countries’ agreements and may include having a minimum of five people in the tour group, and in general, the trip can last up to 30 days. There are no limits placed on where the tour group can travel, but the tours must be organized by certain designated agencies.  

Visa-free travel for tour groups on cruise ships

Effective May 15, 2024, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has officially implemented a visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China via cruise ships. This progressive move aims to enhance personnel exchanges and foster cooperation between China and other nations, furthering the country’s commitment to high-level openness.

Under this policy, foreign tourist groups, comprising two or more individuals, who travel by cruise ship and are organized by Chinese domestic travel agencies, can now enjoy visa-free entry as a cohesive group at cruise ports in 13 cities along the Chinese coast.

These cities include:

  1. Tianjin
  2. Dalian (Liaoning)
  3. Shanghai
  4. Lianyungang (Jiangsu)
  5. Wenzhou (Zhejiang)
  6. Zhoushan (Zhejiang)
  7. Xiamen (Fujian)
  8. Qingdao (Shandong)
  9. Guangzhou(Guangdong)
  10. Shenzhen (Guangdong)
  11. Beihai (Guangxi)
  12. Haikou (Hainan)
  13. Sanya (Hainan)

The tourist group must remain with the same cruise ship until its next port of call and stay within China for no more than 15 days. The eligible areas for this policy are 11 coastal provinces/autonomous regions /municipalities (Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan) and Beijing.

Special cards enabling China visa-free entry 

APEC Business Travel Card holders 

Holders of a valid Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) can enter China multiple times within the card’s validity period for business purposes for periods of up to 60 days at a time. The ABTC is valid for five years and thus functions as a five-year multi-entry visa.

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Only citizens of the 21 APEC member economies are eligible for the ABTC (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia; Singapore; Taiwan, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam). 

Note that although Canada and the US do offer ABTCs, they only provide fast-track immigration processing and do not offer reciprocal entry arrangements, meaning that ABTC holders from the US and Canada are not eligible to enter China directly without a visa, and vice versa. 

In addition, candidates must engage in regular business travel through the APEC member economies and not hold a criminal record. 

Entry to China with the ABTC was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed on August 24, 2022. 

Permanent residence card holders 

It goes without saying that holders of a Chinese permanent residence card do not need to apply for a visa to travel to China, and can freely leave and enter the country through all passenger ports for work, business, family visits, and travel. 

To be eligible for the permanent residency card, foreigners must meet a relatively high bar of work and liquidity requirements, which vary from region to region. For more information on this topic, see our articles on applying for a permanent residence card in Shanghai, Guangdong, and Beijing. 

Residence permit holders

Foreigners with residence permits issued by Chinese public security organs who are in China for work or study are permitted to leave and enter the country as many times as they wish without applying for a visa each time, provided it is during the validity period of the residence permit.

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Foreigners and foreign journalists who come to China for work or study are required to apply for a residence permit after first entering the country. 

Note that the residence permit will be provided as a sticker in the passport with the word “residence” on it, rather than as a separate residence card. 

FAQs

Q1: Do foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China need to notify Chinese embassies or consulates in advance?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China do not need to pre-notify the Chinese embassies or consulates.

Q2: Do Chinese immigration inspection authorities check the purpose of visits before allowing foreign citizens to enter China? Are there additional documents other than a passport required upon entry?

A: Foreign citizens entering China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit purposes who are eligible for visa-free entry, will be allowed to enter China after being checked by the Chinese immigration inspection authorities. For individuals whose purposes of visit do not align with the visa-free entry policy or in categories of entry denial, the Chinese immigration inspection authorities will make entry denial decisions according to relevant laws and regulations. It is encouraged to take necessary supportive documents with you on entering China — invitation letter, flight tickets, hotel reservation confirmation, etc., which will help to verify your purpose of visit. Individuals coming to China for work, study, or journalism purposes do not qualify for the visa-free entry policy.

Q3: Are there special requirements for minors who are eligible for visa-free entry?

A: No special requirements; same as adults.

Q4: Are there certain requirements for the type and validity period for border-entry certificates?

A: Foreign citizens holding ordinary passports should ensure their passport validity covers their stay in China. Travel documents, temporary or emergency document holders do not qualify for the visa-free entry policy.

Q5: How do I interpret the 15-day stay period?

A: Foreign citizens applying for visa-free entry, upon their arrival in China, can stay 15 consecutive natural days, until the 24th hour of the 15th natural day, before leaving China.

Q6: Can foreign citizens applying for the visa-free entry policy depart from countries other than the one(s) of citizenship(s)?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China can depart from any country (region) outside of China.

Q7: Does the visa-free entry policy apply to travel methods other than aviation?

A: The visa-free entry policy applies to all open sea, land, and air travel to foreign citizens (except where laws, regulations, or bilateral agreements specify otherwise). If arriving in China by private transportation, relevant procedures for entry and exit of the vehicle should be processed in accordance with certain Chinese laws and regulations.

Q8: Are tour groups eligible for the visa-free entry policy?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for the visa-free entry policy, whether in groups or as individuals, can apply for the visa-free entry policy.

Q9: If the stay in China exceeds 15 days, can an extension be requested?

A: If a foreign citizen intends to stay in China for more than 15 days, they should apply for a visa meeting that purpose in advance at Chinese embassies or consulates. If there are reasonable and justifiable reasons for a stay longer than 15 days after entering China using the visa-free entry policy, an application for a temporary stay permit must be submitted to the Chinese exit & entry administration of the public security departments before the 15-day stay permit expires.

Q10: Are multiple entries allowed? Are there requirements for the duration of entry intervals? Are there limits on the number of visa-free entries or total days of stay limit?

A: Foreign citizens eligible for visa-free entry to China can enter multiple times. Currently, there are no restrictions on the number of visa-free entries or total days of stay limit. It is of vital importance to keep in mind not to be engaged in activities inconsistent with your purpose of entry.

(Source: Chinese embassy in Switzerland)

(This article was first published in November 2023 and was last updated on August 1, 2024.)

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